Peavey TL-5

Ty McNeely · #1 11-26-2000, 08:24 PM

The bass player at my church has a Peavey TL-5....I've never heard of this bass before. Haven't seen it on their website or anything. I was EXTREMELY impressed with the bass....amazing tone, good action, tons of different tones, etc. I was wondering what you all knew about them?

**embellisher** · #2 11-26-2000, 08:27 PM

These were excellent basses, designed by studio veteran Tim Landers(as was the TL6) and had good electronics, great construction, beautiful finish, and a ton of tones.

They quit making them around 3 or 4 years ago, never really caught on due to the negative vibe people have about Peavey.

reedith · #3 11-26-2000, 09:31 PM

I've got one of these basses, a TL-5, and like you said it's got great tone and sounds and looks amazing. I actually just recorded with it today in the studio, direct into the board again, and I'm always impressed with how great it sounds. Nice electronics and a good looking finish to the body. It's too bad they didn't continue making them though, but the new Cirrus line is absolutely amazing and I'm even thinking of getting either a 5 or 6 string Cirrus sometime in the near future. But as for the TL-5, if you ever get a chance to try one out, be sure to do it. I know they have at least two different models of these though and I've heard from some people that one is better than the other, but I've never tried them myself.

If you go to Peavey's website and search for the TL-5, you should be able to find some manuals on these basses with their specs too. I did that about 2 or 3 months ago so hopefully they're still on the site.

Ty McNeely · #4 11-26-2000, 09:40 PM

I didn't mention it, but these basses look great, as both of you have said. I was very surprised to hear that they don't make them any more, as I was almost sure that he bought it new less than a year ago. However, it could have been new and just hung in the store for a couple of years, who knows. But, if the TL-5 is an indication of Peavey's basses nowadays, I may be a Peavey man before long.

**Blackbird** · #5 11-27-2000, 09:47 AM

As always, I'd like to step in and say how impressed I am that some people think that Peavey equipment sucked until this morning and has become decent just before lunchtime. I have played a TL-5 and I think it's an excellent value, which is par for the course with Peavey equipment. The Dyna, Palaedium, B-Quad, Axcelerator series, all discontinued, are all very road and studio worthy pieces of gear. I suppose Peavey will have to win one customer at a time. It's ood to see that their image is changing.

Will C.

**embellisher** · #6 11-27-2000, 12:00 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by hunter585
I didn't mention it, but these basses look great, as both of you have said. I was very surprised to hear that they don't make them any more, as I was almost sure that he bought it new less than a year ago. However, it could have been new and just hung in the store for a couple of years, who knows. But, if the TL-5 is an indication of Peavey's basses nowadays, I may be a Peavey man before long.

It's not unusual to see an expensive Peavey bass sit around a music store for years.

There is a local chain store in Dallas that has a NOS TL6 that is smudged badly with fingerprints, all dusty and missing 2 strings. It has been missing 2 strings for 2 1/2 years.

They have it marked $1695(I think it listed for $1995).

If they would polish this baby up and put a set of strings on it, they might actually have a prayer of selling it. It is a gorgeous transparent purple over AAA maple wings, SOLID wings, not 1/2" cap.

I have offered them $1000 as is a couple of different times and was laughed out of the store.

OH! - BTW - the TL6 has 2 P pickups, a pretty unusual combination, heck, it's even more rare to see a P on a 6 string period!

toen · #7 03-01-2008, 05:31 PM

I have a TL-5 100% clean...

It's an fantastic bass, and the pickups are extremely sensetive.

Earwigger · #8 03-01-2008, 06:13 PM

Every Peavey I have ever played has impressed me. I gas pretty hard for a Cirrus right now, but a TL-6 or a T-40 would be even cooler. If I recall correctly a TBer had a TL-6 that he sent away to get the pickups redone and the electronics as well. It was a pretty old post..

Philbiker · #9 03-01-2008, 08:15 PM

Wow what a resurrection!!!! 7+ years!!!

toen · #10 03-02-2008, 10:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Philbiker

Wow what a resurrection!!!! 7+ years!!!

you know, when your google you can find anything.
actually, it was just random I found this page, luckily.

Ty McNeely · #11 05-01-2008, 02:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Philbiker

Wow what a resurrection!!!! 7+ years!!!

No kidding! I return after all this time and see that THIS of all my threads has been bumped! This thread was old when I left, it's DEFINITELY old now!!

andvari7 · #12 05-01-2008, 04:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by embellisher

It's not unusual to see an expensive Peavey bass sit around a music store for years.

There is a local chain store in Dallas that has a NOS TL6 that is smudged badly with fingerprints, all dusty and missing 2 strings. It has been missing 2 strings for 2 1/2 years.

They have it marked $1695(I think it listed for $1995).

If they would polish this baby up and put a set of strings on it, they might actually have a prayer of selling it. It is a gorgeous transparent purple over AAA maple wings, SOLID wings, not 1/2" cap.

I have offered them $1000 as is a couple of different times and was laughed out of the store.

OH! - BTW - the TL6 has 2 P pickups, a pretty unusual combination, heck, it's even more rare to see a P on a 6 string period!

Wow. I thought the TL series was much older. And I paid exactly $100 for my TL-Six, which had a broken tuner (fixed), and the treble horn had been sawn off (annoying when I sit). Nonetheless, a fantastic bass - every bit as good as a high-end Ibanez.

MTMTEX · #13 05-01-2008, 07:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ty McNeely

No kidding! I return after all this time and see that THIS of all my threads has been bumped! This thread was old when I left, it's DEFINITELY old now!!

well did you ever end up with a tl-5 or tl-6? i have 2 5's and a 6 and i can tell you they are as good a bass ever made. way underrated. i use the six as my main bass and one of the 5's as a back-up. oh and the alembic, rickenbacker, tobias, fender jazz, spector, guild pilot, ibanez basses i also own? they sit at home and collect dust while my peaveys do all the work. thats how nice they are.

kesslari · #14 05-01-2008, 08:00 AM

There's a sweet TL-5 in the Talkbass Classifieds right now.
I'm not affiliated with the owner, just dig the bass...
FS Peavey TL5/TL-Five

MaddAnthony_59 · #15 05-01-2008, 09:20 AM

I've had a TL-5 in the past. It almost matched my Peavey Rudy Sarzo 4-Banger! Very Sweet bass, and can be had for Very Good prices if you shop around, and negotiate shrewdly...

Some Bass-Porn:

Mine was an Early version, and had a Thumb-Rest put on by original owner. It worked...

rok51 · #16 05-01-2008, 05:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blackbird

I suppose Peavey will have to win one customer at a time. It's odd to see that their image is changing.

Will C.

But it's long overdue. I am proud to have played Peaveys, exclusively-until recently-for 27 years. To me, Peavey was the "better mousetrap". I really wanted to like my Precision more, but I couldn't...and after 12 years of playing it and a lifetime of lusting for it...the Precision had to go.

I know that I have come off sometimes as a Peavey shill-I'm really not. I just have to be honest with myself. Sometimes that leads down a path that I had not intended. Most love bargains-me too. For me, the path to Peavey came more as a result of trying to find fault...and not being able to-except for the name on the headstock. At that point, I had to confront my own prejudices...and really lay it on the line. Did I want 'cred'...or did I want a tool that helped me to achieve the 'sound that was in my head'? I chose the latter...and Peavey.

Kim

**embellisher** · #17 05-02-2008, 03:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ty McNeely

No kidding! I return after all this time and see that THIS of all my threads has been bumped! This thread was old when I left, it's DEFINITELY old now!!

TY! Welcome back, man.

DanRJBrasil · #18 05-02-2008, 06:28 AM

I have one , and it is fantastic, It sounds as good as very other high pricey basses, that costs 3x more

TL5 · #19 05-02-2008, 07:54 AM

I bought my TL-Five new in 1991.
It's been my primary bass ever since, I played it at church last Sunday.

IMHO, the tone, the playability, all great.

Dr. Cheese · #20 05-02-2008, 08:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TL5

I bought my TL-Five new in 1991.
It's been my primary bass ever since, I played it at church last Sunday.

IMHO, the tone, the playability, all great.

That's great! As a gear whore, I really admire people who get a bass and stick with it.